Tubular organizer

ABSTRACT

An organizer for storing items including at least three receptacles, each of the three receptacles having an upper section and a lower base section, each of the base sections having a non-planar bottom surface such that each of the receptacles is incapable of standing on its own when resting on a flat surface, wherein each of the at least three receptacles is fixedly secured to at least one other of the at least three receptacles, such that the at least three receptacles function to support one another in a standing orientation when placed on the flat surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to organizers, and moreparticularly to organizers comprising a plurality of individualreceptacles secured to one another in such a way as to form a stable,free-standing structure, whereas no one individual receptacle wouldstand freely on its own.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Organizers used to hold various items in a plurality of separatereceptacles are well known in the art. For example, organizers are oftenused on desks for holding pens, pencils, scissors, and the like.Organizers are also found in bathrooms for the purpose of holdingtoothbrushes, hairbrushes, toothpaste, and other items. Such organizersgenerally include a planar bottom surface, from which the plurality ofreceptacles extend upwardly.

One problem with these prior organizers is that they tend to beunhygienic when used in proximity of liquid, for example, on the countertop next to a sink in a bathroom or kitchen. Since a planar bottomsurface provides little to no space between the organizer and theunderlying surface, moisture is prevented from evaporating, which leadsto its accumulation beneath the organizer. The combination of trappedmoisture and an anaerobic environment provides many pathogenic microbesideal conditions for growth. Consequently, organizers with planar bottomsurfaces are generally unsuitable for use near sinks and the like.

Another problem with prior organizers is that the growth of microbes andaccumulation of residue can go undetected by the user, especially whenthe receptacles are tall, deep, and narrow, as is generally the case forreceptacles arranged to hold toothbrushes. The problem is exacerbatedwhen the inner surface of a receptacle comprises corners or crevices,which facilitate such growth and accumulation.

Still another problem with prior organizers is that their receptaclesgenerally have the same dimensions, i.e., height, width, diameter, etc.This poses a predicament when the user of the organizer wishes to storeitems of varying dimensions. For example, the optimal dimensions for areceptacle arranged to hold a short, wide item, such as, a makeup brush,would not be optimal for a receptacle arranged to hold a long, slenderitem, such as a toothbrush.

Thus, there is a longfelt need for an organizer which minimizes thepotential for trapping moisture underneath its bottom surface, providesa means for detecting and minimizing unhygienic growth and/oraccumulations within its receptacles, and includes receptacles ofvarious dimensions.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally comprises an organizer for storingitems, having at least three receptacles, each of the three receptaclescomprising an upper section and a lower base section, each base sectionhaving a non-planar bottom surface such that each of the receptacles isincapable of standing on its own when resting on a flat surface, whereineach of the at least three receptacles is fixedly secured to at leastone other of the at least three receptacles, such that the at leastthree receptacles function to support one another in a standingorientation when placed on the flat surface.

The general object of the invention is to provide an organizer whichminimizes the potential for trapping moisture underneath its bottomsurface.

Another object of the invention is to provide an organizer with a meansfor detecting and minimizing unhygienic growth and/or accumulationswithin its receptacles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an organizer whichincludes receptacles of various dimensions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a useful yetaesthetically pleasing organizer.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become readily apparent to those having ordinary skill inthe art upon reading the following detailed description and claims inview of the several views of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and mode of the operation of the present invention will nowbe more fully described in the following detailed description of theinvention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of the presentinvention organizer shown holding a plurality of items;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the organizer alone;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the organizer;

FIG. 4 is a back elevational view of the organizer;

FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the organizer;

FIG. 6 is a left side elevational view of the organizer;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the organizer;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the organizer;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 in FIG.5;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of Area 10 shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of Area 11 shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of theorganizer;

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of theorganizer;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a receptacle ofthe organizer;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the receptacle;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the receptacle;and,

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers ondifferent drawing views identify identical structural elements of theinvention. While the present invention is described with respect to whatis presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it isunderstood that the invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments. The present invention is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devicesand materials similar to those described herein can be used in thepractice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices andmaterials are now described.

The following description is best understood in view of FIGS. 1-9. FIG.1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of the presentinvention organizer, hereinafter referred to as organizer 10, shownholding a plurality of items. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view oforganizer 10 alone. FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of organizer 10.FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of organizer 10. FIG. 4 is aback elevational view of organizer 10. FIG. 6 is a left side elevationalview of organizer 10.

In the embodiment shown in these figures, organizer 10 comprises seventubular receptacles, namely, receptacles 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 18.In FIG. 1, receptacle 11 is shown holding toothpaste tube, 19,receptacle 14 is shown holding make-up brush 21, receptacle 12 is shownholding razor 20, and receptacle 15 is shown holding toothbrush 23. Eachof the receptacles comprises a non-planar bottom surface, as illustratedwith the rounded bottom outer surfaces of the receptacles. Preferably,the non-planar bottom surface of each receptacle is adapted to provideminimal contact with an underlying surface upon which organizer 10 isintended to rest, such as a bathroom sink, in order to minimize thepotential for trapping liquid between organizer 10. Such a non-planarbottom surface renders its respective receptacle incapable of standingon its own when resting on a flat surface. Accordingly, organizer 10comprises at least three receptacles fixedly secured to at least oneother, and arranged to support one another in a standing orientationwhen placed on said flat surface.

Each of receptacles 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 18 may include an uppersection and a lower base section, namely, upper sections 11 a, 12 a, 13a, 14 a, 15 a, 16 a, and 18 a, respectively, and lower base sections 11b, 12 b, 13 b, 14 b, 15 b, 16 b, and 18 b, respectively. However, itshould be appreciated that one or more of the receptacles may be ofintegral construction.

Organizer 10 may comprise any suitable material, for example, plastic,glass, metal, etc. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in the figures,each of the receptacles comprises a substantially transparent material,such as, glass or polyethylene terephthalate. For the sake of clarity,the figures show only the general outer contours of the portions of thereceptacles that are obscured by those in the foreground, as illustratedwith hatched lines. A substantially transparent material is preferred,because it enables a user to detect the presence of unhygienic growth oraccumulation within the receptacle.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the organizer 10, and FIG. 8 is a topplan view of organizer 10. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of Area 11 shownin FIG. 7. As illustrated in these figures, each of receptacles 11, 12,13, 14, 15, 16, and 18 is fixedly secured to at least one otherreceptacle by means of at least one connector 30. Connecter 30 may beany means suitable for fixedly securing one receptacle to another, butpreferably comprises a bridge of rigid material extending between andfixedly secured to the outer surfaces of the two receptacles.Alternatively, each receptacle may be fixedly secured to at least oneother receptacle by directly bonding the outer surfaces of the tworeceptacles.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 in FIG.5. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of Area 10 shown in FIG. 9. The means forattaching each of upper sections 11 a, 12 a, 13 a, 14 a, 15 a, 16 a, and18 a, to its respective lower base section, 11 b, 12 b, 13 b, 14 b, 15b, 16 b, or 18 b, may be any means suitable in the art. Preferably, asshown in the figures, such means generally comprises interlockingflanges. In particular, each upper section comprises a first flange,each lower base section comprises second flange complimentary to thefirst flange, and the first flange is operatively arranged to interlockwith the second flange, such that the upper section is securely attachedto, and supported by, its respective lower base section. For example,FIG. 10 shows first flange 11 c of upper section 11 a in interlockinglyengaged with second flange 11 d of lower base section 11 b.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of thepresent invention organizer, hereinafter referred to as organizer 100.Organizer 100 comprises five receptacles, namely, receptacles 101, 102,103, 104, and 105. Receptacles 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105 compriseupper sections 101 a, 102 a, 103 a, 104 a and 105 a, respectively, andlower base sections 101 b, 102 b, 103 b, 104 b (not fully shown), and105 b, respectively. Preferably, receptacles 101, 102, and 103 aresubstantially tubular and of various heights and diameters, as shown inthis figure.

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of the presentinvention organizer, hereinafter referred to as organizer 150. Organizer150 comprises three receptacles, namely, receptacles 151, 152, and 153.Receptacles 151, 152, and 153 comprise upper sections 151 a, 152 a, and153 a, respectively, and lower base sections 151 b, 152 b, and 153 b(not fully shown), respectively. Preferably, receptacles 151, 152, and153 are substantially tubular and of various heights and diameters, asshown in this figure.

While FIGS. 1-13 show the organizer comprising substantially cylindricaltubular receptacles, it should be appreciated that the particular shapeof the upper and lower base sections may be modified without departingfrom the scope of the invention. For example, FIG. 14 is a perspectiveview of second embodiment receptacle 200 comprising upper section 200 a,having a generally rectangular cross-section, and rounded lower basesection 200 b. FIG. 15 a perspective view of third embodiment receptacle250 comprising upper section 250 a, having a generally triangularcross-section, and three-sided pyramidal lower base section 250 b. FIG.16 is a perspective view of fourth embodiment receptacle 300 comprisingupper section 300 a, having a generally hexagonal cross-section, andsix-sided pyramidal lower base section 300 b. Lastly, FIG. 17 is aperspective view of fifth embodiment receptacle 350 comprising uppersection 350 a, having a generally octagonal cross-section, andeight-sided pyramidal lower base section 350 b.

Thus it is seen that the objects of the invention are efficientlyobtained, although changes and modifications to the invention should bereadily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, whichchanges would not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention asclaimed.

1. An organizer for storing items, comprising: at least threereceptacles, each of said three receptacles comprising an upper sectionand a lower base section, each said base section having a non-planarbottom surface such that each of said receptacles is incapable ofstanding on its own when resting on a flat surface, wherein each of saidat least three receptacles is fixedly secured to at least one other ofsaid at least three receptacles, such that said at least threereceptacles function to support one another in a standing orientationwhen placed on said flat surface.
 2. The organizer recited in claim 1wherein each of said at least three receptacles is generally tubular inshape and each said upper section is cylindrical in shape.
 3. Theorganizer recited in claim 2 wherein each of said non-planar bottomsurfaces of each of said lower base sections comprises an arcuatesurface.
 4. The organizer recited in claim 2 wherein each of saidnon-planar bottom surfaces of each of said lower base sections comprisesa substantially semi-spherical surface.
 6. The organizer recited inclaim 1 wherein said upper section has a generally polygonalcross-section.
 7. The organizer recited in claim 6 wherein said uppersection is generally rectangular in cross-section.
 8. The organizerrecited in claim 6 wherein said upper section is generally hexagonal incross-section.
 9. The organizer recited in claim 6 wherein said uppersection is generally octagonal in cross-section.
 10. The organizerrecited in claim 1 wherein each of said at least three receptaclescomprises an interior floor.
 11. The organizer recited in claim 10wherein each said floor is arcuate in shape.
 12. The organizer recitedin claim 10 wherein each said floor is semi-spherical in shape.
 13. Theorganizer recited in claim 1 wherein at least two of said at least threereceptacles are of different heights.
 14. The organizer recited in claim2 wherein at least two of said at least three receptacles are ofdifferent diameters.
 15. The organizer recited in claim 1 wherein eachof said at least three receptacles is transparent.
 16. The organizerrecited in claim 1 wherein each of said at least three receptacles istranslucent.
 17. The organizer recited in claim 1 wherein each of saidat least three receptacles is opaque.
 18. The organizer recited in claim1 wherein each of said at least three receptacles is made of plastic.19. An organizer for storing items, comprising: at least threereceptacles, each of said three receptacles comprising an upper sectionand a lower base section, each said base section having a non-planarbottom surface such that each of said receptacles is incapable ofstanding on its own when resting on a flat surface, wherein each of saidat least three receptacles is fixedly secured to at least one other ofsaid at least three receptacles and to no other structure, such thatsaid at least three receptacles function to support one another in astanding orientation when placed on said flat surface.